On Monday, State Supreme Court Justice Peter H. Mayer ruled to deny the Town’s Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against LIPA’s construction of the above-ground portion of the powerline route in Water Mill (huge poles).

Judge Mayer did not vacate the Town’s Stop Work Order (SWO) against LIPA’s above-ground portion, and delayed his ruling on that. It is not clear that LIPA will abide by the Town’s SWO, as LIPA had scheduled to begin erecting poles in Water Mill this Friday, May 2.

The Town and LIPA Are at an Impasse. LIPA demands to be assured of payment for burying all the cables. LIPA management is willing to make the deal, but the LIPA Trustees must vote to approve this decision. LIPA wants assurance that…IF they bury all the cables before the LIPA Trustees vote…and IF the LIPA Trustees vote not to accept the residents’ surcharge covering the cost…then Southampton Town will pay.

The Town is reluctant to make that assurance, as the expense might have to be borne town-wide in the absence of a special Tax Assessment District (for the East End of the Town). The proposal of a new Tax Assessment District would take time to work through the approval process in Albany, and might not be approved.

YOU CAN HELP – Send an email to Supervisor Linda Kabot and the Southampton Town Board. Let Supervisor Kabot know you want the Town to make sure there are No Huge Poles in the South Fork! No matter what! One way or another, the Town must agree to cover LIPA’s financial liability to bury all the cables – No Huge Poles! Email Supervisor Kabot and the Town Board today at: LKabot@SouthamptonTownNY.gov

Thanks to those of you who have already contributed to our legal defense fund! If you have not contributed to our legal defense fund, please do it NOW! You can make a credit card contribution securely on-line via PayPal on our website at buryLIPAcables.com by clicking here: Go to Donate Button.

Steve Abramson, Chair
Committee for a Green South Forkinfo@buryLIPAcables.com